Release Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011

U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Pennsylvania's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting

The U.S. Census Bureau today released more detailed 2010 Census population totals and demographic characteristics to the governor and leadership of the state legislature in Pennsylvania. These data provide the first look at population counts for small areas and race, Hispanic origin, voting age and housing unit data released from the 2010 Census.

The official 2010 Census Redistricting Data Summary File can be used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts under Public Law 94-171. The census data are used by state officials to realign congressional and state legislative districts in their states, taking into account population shifts since the 2000 Census.

Data for Pennsylvania show that the five most populous cities or townships and their 2010 Census counts are Philadelphia, 1,526,006; Pittsburgh, 305,704; Allentown, 118,032; Erie, 101,786; and Reading, 88,082. Philadelphia grew by 0.6 percent since the 2000 Census. Pittsburgh decreased by 8.6 percent, Allentown grew by 10.7 percent, Erie decreased by 1.9 percent, and Reading grew by 8.5 percent.

The largest county is Philadelphia, with a population of 1,526,006. Its population grew by 0.6 percent since 2000. The other counties in the top five include Allegheny, with a population of 1,223,348 (decrease of 4.6 percent); Montgomery, 799,874 (increase of 6.6 percent); Bucks, 625,249 (increase of 4.6 percent); and Delaware, 558,979 (increase of 1.5 percent). (Philadelphia city and county cover the same geographic area.)

The redistricting file consists of five detailed tables: the first shows the population by race, including six single race groups and 57 multiple race groups (63 total race categories); the second shows the Hispanic or Latino population as well as the non-Hispanic or Latino population cross-tabulated by the 63 race categories. These tabulations are repeated in the third and fourth tables for the population 18 years and over and are for the resident population of the United States. The fifth table provides counts of housing units and their occupancy status.

By April 1, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will receive these data for the following areas: state, congressional districts (for 111th Congress), counties, minor civil divisions, state legislative districts, places, school districts, census tracts, block groups and blocks, and if applicable, American Indian and Alaska Native areas and Hawaiian home lands. In addition, data are available for the 46 states that voluntarily provided voting districts to the Census Bureau's Redistricting Data Program. Unique geographies for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are also available.

Race and Hispanic Origin Data

The Census Bureau collects race and Hispanic origin information following the U.S. Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) standards for collecting and tabulating data on race and ethnicity. In October 1997, the OMB issued the current standards, which identify five race groups: white, black or African-American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. The Census Bureau also utilized a sixth category - "some other race." Respondents who reported only one race are shown in these six groups.

Individuals were first presented with the option to self-identify with more than one race in the 2000 Census, and this continued in the 2010 Census. People who identify with more than one race may choose to provide multiple races in response to the race question. The 2010 Census results provide new data on the size and makeup of the nation's multiracial population.

Respondents who reported more than one of the six race groups are included in the "two or more races" population. There are 57 possible combinations of the six race groups.

The Census Bureau included the "some other race" category for responses that could not be classified in any of the other race categories on the questionnaire. In the 2000 Census, the vast majority of people who reported only as "some other race" were of Hispanic or Latino origin. Data on Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, were obtained from a separate question on ethnicity.

Description of Five Custom Tables

In addition to the full set of detailed tables to be available on FactFinder within 24 hours, five custom tables are also attached to this news release. The first (Table 1) shows the most populous counties and cities or townships in 2010, their change since the 2000 Census and their population rank for both decades.

Table 2 shows data for all ages and for those 18 and older for the Hispanic or Latino population, as well as for people who reported one race and those who reported two or more races. This table also shows the numeric and percent change in the population by race and Hispanic origin between 2000 and 2010.

Table 3 is similar to Table 2. However, it shows data for the six "race alone or in combination" categories. The concept "race alone or in combination" includes people who reported only a single race (e.g., Asian) and people who reported that race in combination with one or more of the other major race groups (i.e., white, black or African-American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and some other race).

The concept "race alone or in combination," represents the maximum number of people who reported as that major race group, either alone or in combination with another race(s). The sum of the six individual "race alone or in combination" categories may add to more than the total population because people who reported more than one race were tallied in each race category.

For people who reported two or more races, Table 4 shows the population in each of the 15 combinations of two races (for example, the number of people who reported being both white and black or African-American).

Table 5 shows the population in the major race categories and of Hispanic or Latino origin for Pennsylvania's most populous counties and cities or townships.

Description of Two Custom Maps

The attached custom maps show the total population by county for Pennsylvania and the percent change in the population by county.

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